PRWID reveals CIB funding list for 2009

It's been a number of years since the Price River Water District has approached the Community Impact Board for money concerning projects, but now once again, they are ready to ask for some.

"These are projects we have gathered together by conferring with our supervisors," Jeff Richens told the PRWID board on Tuesday night during a regularly scheduled meeting. "The longer we go without doing these projects the more the costs on them will change."

The last time PRWID went to the CIB for money was in 2003. The CIB is a board that was set up a number of years ago by the state to use money from energy production to help areas where infrastructure and facilities are impacted by the energy industry. The CIB seldom funds any project fully, but often will give an agency 50 percent of the money needed and then lend the other 50 percent at either low interest or no interest. Percentages of grant vs. loan vary depending on the project, the agencies history with the CIB, need, etc.

Richens presented a short term list and a long term list to the board. Things on the short term list could be done in the next year or two. Items on the long term list are projects that would be done after 2011.

The short term list included the following projects or needs.

â¢A back up generator for the water treatment plant. According to Richens the present backup generator still works, but it is very old and parts are becoming almost impossible to find to repair it. Estimated total cost is $40,000.

"If we don't do something with this the day could come that it won't start or run and we will not be able to treat water at the plant for distribution during a power outage," he said.

â¢Water line replacement in Miller Creek. The replacement of 3200 feet of line would take place on the so called Black Rock section of water line in the Miller Creek area. The district would also add a number of fire hydrants to the line. The estimated cost would be $75,000.

"The pressure is alright in the line, but it doesn't provide enough volume for those using the system," Richens told the board.

â¢A wireless communications system for controlling the water plant and distribution system. Carbon County is going with a web based system that will allow supervisors to control various equipment and building controls by using a secure Internet connection. Richens says that PRWID would like to piggyback onto what the county is doing to set up the systems used by the water district to do the same. $75,000.

"We have a system that is hard wired now, but we have been having problems with it," he said. "This would give our supervisors the ability to control many functions right from their home computers if they need to. It would be more reliable and give us more flexibility when things need to be done or emergencies arise."

â¢Replacement of SCBA equipment in the district. As the Self Contained Breathing Apparatus units in the district age they need to be replaced with newer more modern ones for safety. The units are costly and CIB assistance could help with those replacement costs. Estimated cost $15,000.

â¢Some mainline sewer line improvements are also needed according to supervisors. Lines include areas north of Helper in the Martin area, around Faucett Lane in Price, and in Spring Glen at 1590 West. The Helper and Price locations would cost around $60,000 to correct and the Spring Glen line would cost about $30,000.

"We have problems with the lines in those areas," said Richens. "Our crews must go out quarterly and vacuum and rod those to keep the settlement out and keep them open and running."

â¢Process control and safety equipment at the plants. Cost estimated to be $45,000.

â¢Roof reconstruction at the district office, some HVAC work and some other assorted equipment. Cost $60,000.

Then Richens turned to the long term list.

â¢Water plant and distribution system upgrades to meet federal and state guidelines after 2013. The cost for this project is large and is in flux.

"We could spend anywhere from $2 million to $6 million to make the upgrades," said Richens. "The state and federal government are mandating these changes and it could mean a lot of changes at the water plant and possibly throughout our distribution system as well. These changes will need to be made for us to comply with upcoming statute."

â¢Water and sewer system hydraulic analysis, with a master plan system with GIS. Cost $350,000.

â¢A new digester and supplemental boiler at the wastewater plant. Cost $150,000.

"The boiler we have there is old and its days are certainly numbered," said Richens.

â¢Tunnel ventilation and a main heat supply at the wastewater plant. Cost $50,000.

After presenting the list the board had some questions about how the various projects were selected and why certain things warranted more attention than others.

"I am looking at some of these projects and I wonder how these are picked to be priorities," said board member Steve Rigby. "For instance, the Black Rock line. What gives that priority of replacement over other lines in the system that have similar problems? Is it because of need or that the district gets more complaints from that area?"

Richens explained that none of the projects on the short term list were set in concrete, but that the lists were compiled by the supervisors who have to work with the systems each day.

Rigby also said that he thought that the revamping of the listed sewer lines in Martin, Spring Glen and Price seemed high compared to the cost of what was probably being expended to maintain them as they are.

"For instance the Martin project will cost $60,000," he said. "But sending people out there for a day every three months to dredge the line out is not that expensive compared to the cost to fix it."

Richens pointed out that the supervisors had told him the action that had to be taken was quarterly, but didn't specify how long it took.

"It could take a week to do it each time," said Richens. "But it does have to be done quarterly. The bottom line is that these three areas are constantly causing problems and account for a lot of time spent on things that could operate more efficiently.

The board took the list under advisement and voted to allow the district administration to hold a public hearing in the near future concerning the projects on the lists, to gather citizen input on the matter.